textproduct: Rapid City

KEY MESSAGES

- Above average temperatures remain in the forecast. The hottest day will be today with highs in the mid to upper 90s with 80s and 90s expected Sunday and Monday.

- Elevated fire weather conditions are expected through the weekend.

- Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected through Sunday, focusing on this evening and Sunday afternoon/evening

DISCUSSION

(This Afternoon Through Friday) Issued at 1139 AM MDT Sat Sep 5 2026

For the rest of today, isolated storms are drifting northwards. But with weak flow and weak large scale forcing, storm coverage will be limited, which will help lower the overall severe risk. Enough instability exists that severe wind gusts and severe hail are possible. For now, thinking is these storms drifting northwards will travel east to northeast this afternoon, tracking through the SD plains through tonight. Today's afternoon temps will be much above normal, in the 90s to near 100. Overnight temps will cool to the 60s for most of the area, little cooler in the Black Hills.

Around round of passing storms is likely tomorrow/Sunday. An upper level trough, currently sitting and spinning over the pacific northwest, will swing over Montana. This trough will likely be the main weather maker for the area for a couple days. As it kicks east and north, thunderstorms will be likely ahead of the trough. And this kind of pattern has had a history of producing severe weather. The SPC has placed a marginal severe risk out for Sunday over the Black Hills and to the north and machine learning severe weather models are hinting at the risk of severe weather centered over the CWA Sunday into Monday. For now, thunderstorms will likely get going around noon over the Black Hills and those will track northward. Then late Sunday into Sunday night, a reinforcing round of moisture and storms will drift northward through the area. Now is a good time to be sure of having a way of being informed of severe weather in your area.

For next week, very low chances for precip lingers in the forecast with slightly cooler weather Tuesday and Wednesday, before the upper 80s to 90s return later in the week.

AVIATION

(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Sunday Evening) Issued At 521 PM MDT Sat Sep 5 2026

Isolated/scattered thunderstorms will continue this evening over western SD, waning overnight as they move northeast. Local MVFR conditions will occur with the strongest storms as well as gusty, erratic winds and perhaps some hail. KRAP will be affected through 06/01z. Additional storms will develop Sunday afternoon. Outside of thunderstorms, VFR conditions are expected through the period.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued At 1139 AM MDT Sat Sep 5 2026

Warm and dry conditions are still found around the area today, especially over northeastern WY and parts of western SD but the winds aren't as strong as they have been. So elevated fire weather conditions are expected today.

Temperatures will be hot again tomorrow and Sunday with highs well into the 90s to near 100 degrees. Very low humidity is also expected to continue, dropping to near 15 to 20 percent in the afternoons across northeastern WY and portions of far western SD. The winds will continue to be not as strong, so at this time, Red Flag Warning thresholds are not expected to be met so a Red Flag Warning extension is not expected at this time.

UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

SD...None. WY...None.